Houston resistance to ‘Minutemen’ growing

The anti-immigrant militia known as the Minutemen have announced they will arrive here in October, armed, to “monitor” day-labor sites for immigrant workers around the city. These racists will be met by the organized resistance of people who believe that every worker has the right to a job.

A new organization made up of organized labor, student groups and other progressive organizations has been formed and is actively organizing. The Immigrant Coalition Against Vigilantes and Intolerance and for Respect and Compassion (ICAVIRC) is developing teams to monitor the Minutemen at the day-labor sites and planning a community march and rally.

The group is working to get the Houston City Council to order the police to stop harassing the day laborers at the sites. The Houston police have begun heavy surveillance of day-labor sites, photographing the workers in an attempt to intimidate them.

ICAVIRC is also organizing day laborers—who themselves held a recent town hall meeting here.

The coalition is mainly Latin@s, including long-time activists, as well as organizations of Chicano students who are taking part in their first political struggle.

Since the Minutemen have been organizing in Houston, the president of the Goliad chapter near the U.S./Mexico border—himself a Chicano—resigned because of the racism of the group. In Houston the Minutemen are offering a $50 discount on membership to their group if a person already has a concealed gun permit.